Listen To Me Awards 2024
Foster carers, teachers and social workers and others involved with helping young people within - or who have just left the care system - were thanked by those they have helped by at a special awards event.
The annual Listen To Me Awards, held this year at the Floral Pavilion theatre in New Brighton, is an opportunity to celebrate those working with Children Looked After and Care Leavers.
For the young people it is a chance to thank the special person who has taken the time to listen to them and had a positive impact in their lives.
This year saw 61 young people aged between 6-23 years nominate 78 people, ranging from Foster Carers, Parents, Social Workers, Personal Advisors, and Teaching Staff to Family Members, Independent Visitors, Youth Workers and Open Door and Support/Care Staff.
All of those nominated who were able to attend were presented with a certificate and a copy of the nomination explaining why they had such a positive impact, before the opportunity for the young people to share their nominations with everyone present.
Cllr Chris Carubia, vice chair of Wirral Council’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, attended the awards evening and presented the certificates and copies of the nominations.
He said after:
It was an incredibly moving event but one which was also joyful and celebrated the amazing work, a fantastic chance for all that positive influence to be seen and acknowledged.
Helping young people through the care system is a huge responsibility and can be a complex and intensive process. From the extent of nominations, it is clear that a huge range of specialist skills, knowledge and expertise is needed and the nominations made clear the positive and vital impact these incredible people have had in helping so many young people in the care of the local authority.
The nominations showed just how significant an impact those working with the young people had on them, and included comments such as:
No matter the situation they always have my best interest at heart
… is like a big sister. They always listen to me and make me happy when I'm sad.
… she always makes me smile when I feel down. And she is someone who I can open up to with my problems whilst I'm away from my family and I struggle to open up to people
… has helped me achieve my goals, listens to my wishes, help me be the best version of myself and understand myself better.
she has taken care of me and my brother for 6 years and she has taken me to all sorts of places, and she loves me so much. I love her.
The evening also saw performances from children in care, care leavers and the CLA Dance and Drama group, plus live music as well as Face painting and magic mirror/photo booth, candy machine and popcorn machine.
